PARENT INFORMATION
Drum corps is an amazing experience that helps kids grow in so many ways. Spending the summer traveling across the country, they’ll learn important life skills like teamwork, discipline, and time management. It’s a chance for them to push themselves, face challenges, and build confidence, all while doing something they love. They’ll also make lifelong friendships with other passionate kids from all over. It’s more than just music and marching—it’s about becoming a more independent, resilient person and having an unforgettable adventure along the way!
If you are new to the drum corps activity, or to the Blue Knights organization, we’re sure you may have some questions! Every summer we work hard to ensure that the Blue Knights Experience is a safe, enjoyable, and life-changing for your young performer. To help make that experience great is ensuring that parents have access to all the information they may need to support their performer during the season.
Your student may be trying their hand at a spot for the summer with an audition, or entering as a contracted performer to being their experience for the entire summer. Either way, we are here to answer your questions and provide any support you may need.
This page is intended to highlight a few things that we find the parents and guardians of the drum corps performers are interested or curious about. We also know that parents feel most comfortable when they have a way to communicate with us and with other parents. Here are a few places where you can find information, chat with other parents, and contact us at the Blue Knights office:
Parent facebook group
We have an official Facebook Group for parents and guardians! This is a great place to contact other parents, share photos you might capture from the season, and ask questions that “veteran” parents know the answer to!
Frequently Asked Questions
Most preseason questions can be answered with information found in the 2025 season FAQs.
CONTACT THE OFFICE
Can’t find the answer to a question? Need help with something? You can contact us at the office anytime!
E-mail us at info.ascendperformingarts.org
ABOUT AUDITIONS & THE PRE-SEASON
The audition season typically begins each year with the start of the Camps and Clinics in mid-November. The Blue Knights host camps annually in Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis, San Antonio and Houston. In addition we hold virtual auditions. Virtual auditions tend to be highly competitive because they aren’t as great of an opportunity for our staff to gauge ability levels. Auditioning in person is always the best way to perform a great audition.
After this first round of auditions, a few hundred students are offered either a “callback” or a contract. Callbacks and some other invited students attend the BKXperience Camp in Denver from December 20-22. Then, once the callback round is complete, the Blue Knights begins it’s pre-season rehearsal schedule with the January rehearsal camp in Denver, CO from January 24-26.
The pre-season schedule is required for all contracted participants (and a select few participants still on “callback status”) is as follows:
January Musicians Camp (no guard) – Denver, CO – January 24-26
February Brass only Camp – Denver, CO -February 21-23
March Brass only Camp – Denver, CO – March TBD
April Camp (all captions) – Denver, CO – April 25-27
SOME IMPORTANT AUDITION / PRE-SEASON NOTES FOR PARENTS & GUARDIANS
* All pre-season dates are required (depending on section). If missing a camp or clinic, contact your Caption Head or email [email protected].
* Costs for camps include overnight housing and food.
* Earning a contract does not guarantee a performance spot on the field. This means that any performer may be assigned to an “understudy position” at any time. Refunds are not offered to students who are understudies. The position carries the same level of responsibility and “membership” in the corps as any other participant.
ABOUT SPRING TRAINING
Spring Training is a 5-week training camp where we rehearse, design, and learn the show. Spring Training takes place at numerous high schools around Colorado. Move-in day is typically the Friday of Memorial Day weekend but currently is TBD.
ABOUT TOUR
The Blue Knights will perform more than 20 times at events, parades and field competitions across the US. This exciting national tour culminates at the three-day Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. On days without performances, the corps rehearses intensely. About once every two weeks, the corps takes time off to reset, do laundry and have some fun.